US Service Members Deliver Supplies to Bi'idley Storm Victims

CJTF-HOA Photo BI'IDLEY, Djibouti (Nov. 7, 2012) - U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Carissa Cantone, Camp Lemonnier's Friends of Africa Volunteers group liaison to the U.S. Embassy in Djibouti, and U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Kennedy Ware, religious program specialist, transport supplies to the villagers of Bi'idley, Djibouti, Nov. 7, 2012. Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa's Ali Sabieh, Djibouti, Joint Civil Affairs Team, the FAV group and chapel staff arrived at the village to deliver more than 20 boxes of supplies to assist villagers with rebuilding the community after a strong wind storm destroyed much of their village three months ago. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Christopher Ruano)

CJTF-HOA Photo BI'IDLEY, Djibouti (Nov. 7, 2012) - Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa's Ali Sabieh Djibouti Joint Civil Affairs Team, and Camp Lemonnier's Friends of Africa Volunteers group and Enduring Freedom Chapel staff visited Bi'idley, Djibouti, Nov. 7, 2012, to deliver more than 20 boxes of supplies to assist villagers with rebuilding the community after a strong wind storm destroyed much of their village three months ago. "Most of these supplies have been donated by soldiers, friends and families back home," said U.S. Army Maj. Sean Malis, Ali Sabieh JCAT leader. "They've been shipped out here at considerable expense, to be gathered up by the chaplains and FAV to be donated here today." (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Christopher Ruano)

After the small village of Bi'idley located within the Ali Sabieh district of Djibouti was hit by a strong wind storm three months ago, the village's nearly 100 residents were left with demolished homes, missing livestock and some personal injuries.

"It began at 9 p.m. and lasted two hours," said Hassan Ahmed, a Bi'idley villager. "After that everything was destroyed. People were running away and yelling. It was cold here."

Today, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa's Ali Sabieh Djibouti Joint Civil Affairs Team and Camp Lemonnier's Friends of Africa Volunteers group and Enduring Freedom Chapel staff arrived at the village to deliver more than 20 boxes of supplies to assist with rebuilding this community.

"What we're doing is a simple relief mission," said U.S. Army Maj. Sean Malis, Ali Sabieh JCAT team leader. "As a civil affairs team … we try to identify needs of the local populations. Upon our visit to this small village, we could see that they were in great need of help."

After visiting the village, Malis partnered with the FAV and chapel office.

"We were approached by Maj. Malis about bringing some supplies to this village," said U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant Adriana McCrindle, FAV assistant liaison to the U.S. Embassy in Djibouti. "These people had a cyclone come through here three months ago and they lost everything. We just brought some stuff for them to rebuild."

According to Malis, Bi'idley villagers live in small huts called tukels. These tukels are made of woven branches that are covered with mats. Much of the supplies given will be used to continue rebuilding these homes.

"This windstorm destroyed homes all over the village," Malis said. "These simple relief supplies, such as cooking supplies, utensils, fabric, things that these people could really turn around and use to help rehabilitate their village, would be very beneficial to the community to try and get them back up on their feet."

To gather the supplies, the FAV reached out for help while the chapel staff sorted through the many boxes of care packages they had.

"Most of these supplies have been donated by soldiers, friends and families back home," Malis said. "They've been shipped out here at considerable expense, to be gathered up by the chaplains and FAV to be donated here today. The FAV bring an invaluable service to our efforts of helping to relieve some of the stresses and problems in our area. They also bring enthusiastic service members who are anxious to make friends and connect with the community and citizens of Djibouti," he said. "We look forward to working with the FAV in the future."

Another partner effort is already in its planning stages.

"We're working on a project right now to help preserve a wildlife refuge in the southern part of Djibouti," Malis said. "It's a project where we're trying to help the local government build capacity by working with local officials and wildlife preserve staff to delineate the boundaries of this wildlife preserve."

For more information or to volunteer within the FAV, attend a Wednesday meeting at 5 p.m. at the Enduring Freedom Chapel office.

Tags

We suggest

The U.S. Marine Corps is arguably one of the most revered institutions within the U.S. Department of Defense. So, when Combined Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) leadership recently welcomed members of the Djibouti Armed Forces (FAD) into the U.S. Marine Corps Corporals Course, it was a distinct honor.

Deputy command chaplain for U.S. Africa Command engages with key leaders and local practitioners of the Islamic faith during a week-long temporary duty assignment to Djibouti, Africa to take part in USAFRICOM’s Cutlass Express 2017 exercise.

Within hours of being notified, CJTF-HOA’s East Africa Response Force prepared dozens of Soldiers and tons of supplies for takeoff during an emergency response exercise, validating the EARF’s rapid response capabilities.